METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER.

Kept at Croom's Hill, Greenwich, by Mr. W. Rogerson, of the Royal Observatory From the 21st of February, to the 20th of March, 1811.

=

FEBRUARY-Mean height of the barometer 29.777 inches: mean temper35.2 degrees: depth of Rain fallen 0.98 inches.

ature =

TO OUR FRIENDS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

We are much obliged to ARGO for his watchful care-the subject is likely to be a tedious one. We shall, however, not let it pass unattended to.

Mr. WALKER's letter in our next.

A SUBSCRIBER's lines we have no room for at present.

The letter on the Foundering of Merchant Vessels will appear in a future number. We are indebted to a friend for the BOMBAY SUMMARY, and shall be glad to hear from him in the same way again.

We have only left ourselves sufficient room to recommend to the especial atten tion of our Naval readers, and those who make long voyages, the Patent Preserved Potato of Messrs. Edwards and Co., which is found fit for use in any climate, and after the longest voyage. Thus the luxury of a fresh vegetable of the cheapest kind, only to be appreciated by those who know what is hard sea fare, is secured for their tables at all times, and at the same price as when new!

289

REMARKS ON THE CAPE BIANCO SHOAL, AND THE PASSAGE BETWEEN IT AND PAXO.

THE latitude of Cape Bianco is 39° 21′ 21′′ N., and the Lacca light on the north-west part of the Island of Paxo bears from Cape Bianco S. 5° 14' E. true, distant about eight and one-fifth miles.

Ships coming from the westward for the south channel of Corfu between Corfu and Paxo should keep mid-channel to avoid the dangerous shoal extending from Cape Bianco. A black buoy is placed on its south extremity in ten fathoms, mud and sand, it bears from Cape Bianco S. 48° 30' E. true, nearly two miles and a half; and another on its eastern extremity in nine fathoms hard sand which bears S. 84° E. true, from Cape Bianco about two miles and a quarter; and from the Lacca light N. 10° E. true: therefore by keeping the Lacca light (which is easily seen at ten to fifteen miles) to the westward of S.S.W.W., (S. 13° W. true,) until you bring Cape Bianco west: (S. 77° W.true) it will clear you of the shoal, when you may steer to the northward, or shape a course N.b.W. until you see the Alefkimo light vessel. Avoid passing nearer than three-quarters of a mile south-east of the Alefkimo light, where a spit of mud runs out, after which the channel to the northward is quite clear. The Gayo light at the entrance of the Port of Paxo was intended to have been used as the clearing mark for the east part of the Cape Bianco shoal. I have often been there when we could not see it in the least, being such a bad light; but the Lacca light answers every purpose. In the case of a southerly wind, and not fetching the south end of Corfu be careful in standing in towards Cape Bianco to the westward. You should not go nearer the Cape than two miles, as there are patches of rocks extending above a mile off shore, with only six feet water, and the soundings are not regular enough to warn you.

The whole of the shoal extending from Cape Bianco is irregular. Within half a mile of the south buoy we found four and three-quarter fathoms; and by chance you may find less, which makes it quite unsafe passing inside the buoys with a vessel of any draught: but you may anchor, if necessary, between the two buoys in from ten to twelve fathoms sand and mud, or to the south-east of the buoys where the shoal continues with regular soundings: another place with Cape Bianco W.b.N., and the East Buoy S.S.W. in eleven to thirteen fathoms is a good berth.

ANCHORAGE of Salona.

Os entering the bay of Salona, you should keep over to the eastern shore, as a shoal is reported to exist midway or near about, where H.M.S. Raleigh run on shore some years since; we had not the bearings of the positions, or would have looked particularly for it, to have inserted it in the survey. Although we ran over a great part of the bay,-no bottom twenty-five fathoms, yet nothing was observed, nor could we gain any information relative to its existence from any person t Galaxidi. On closing the eastern shore you may steer up, just passing to the eastward of the smallest island of the seven, and then shape a course midENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 5.-VOL. FOR 1841.

2 P

way between the two northernmost islands and the low point forming the west end of a bay, inside of which bay is the custom-house of Salona; should you not be able to go to the eastward of the two islands, do not attempt to go between them, as they are connected by a reef, but run to the southward of the two islands, and steer in for the point which trends to the eastward, where you have a clear passage inshore of the islands up to the anchorage. We anchored in thirteen fathoms (mud,) custom house north-east, the low sandy point E.b.N., and the east part of the bay of Salona S.b.E. E.: and you may anchor where ever you please within the two small islands, but small vessels may go inside the low point, where there is good anchorage from nine to thirteen fathoms, with good holding ground, perfectly land-locked. The tide at Salona is remarkable for its quickness in rising: we were there the day after the full moon, when it commenced rising at two hours, and in a quarter of an hour it had risen a foot: it continued to rise a little more than two feet. Latitude of the low point by two observers 38° 26' 4"; at present there is only a custom-house, and two or three stores at the place, but a new city is to be built on the low point; in fact, a few houses are building: nothing to be procured in way of provisions, and the anchorage is excessively hot and sultry.

ANCHORAGE OFF CORINTH.

THE bay of Corinth has already been surveyed by Captain Copeland, which is very good, as far as we had an opportunity of observing. We anchored off shore about two cables, with the Acropolis in line with the centre of the town S.S.W. W., western extreme of the bay N.W. N., and Point Melangeri N. W., (mud and sand,) this is certainly not the best anchorage, except with easterly winds, when you are well up the gulf. But to the westward, abreast of a small village with Point Melangeri N.E.b.N. you may anchor from eighteen to seven fathoms, (mud and sand,) about two or three cables off shore. The town as well as the acropolis is in a very dilapidated state. There are a few soldiers kept in the acropolis merely to guard it.

ANCHORAGE INSIDE THE TRIGONIA ISLANDS.

THE eastern part of the large or western Trigonia Islands bears N. 4 W. true from the flag-staff of Vostizza, inside of which island there is an excellent anchorage in any weather, from it a ship has the advantage of being able to go to sea with any wind. We anchored in eighteen fathoms and a half, stiff mud, with the west extreme of the large island W.¦S., the point on the north shore N.W.b. W. W., red cliff on the north shore E.S.E., and a river on the north part of Islands S.E.b.S., which appeared to be a very good anchorage, but, perhaps, a little more on the northern shore in seventeen fathoms, good holding ground would be better. The entrance to the anchorage is either between the east and west Trigonia Islands, or to the westward of the large or westernmost, both of which passages are perfectly clear,-no bottom twenty-five fathoms within twenty fathoms of the shore. There is a small reef extending off the north part of the island, (which has a ruin on it,)

about forty fathoms off two and a half fathoms, and seventy fathoms off, seven fathoms, stones, when it falls into deep water; that is the only danger in the anchorage. There is a small inner harbour in the northern part of the island, which has a small island at its entrance. Inside of the harbour, which is about 300 yards, there is from six to two and a half fathoms, (mud,) a very excellent anchorage for small vessels.

ANCHORAGE OF GALAXIDI.

VESSELS bound to Galaxidi, may run with a fair wind between the first or southern and second island, which is perfectly clear, except round each island about thirty fathoms off, and a shoal above water with a reef extending about thirty fathoms, with three fathoms rocks, which shoal you have on the larboard hand, after which, yon run into a most spacious bay with anchorage all over it. We worked out of

this passage with the wind dead against us. The next passage is between the second and third islands, or the largest and the next to the northward of it. Mid-way between those two islands, there is a shoal with one and three-quarters fathoms on it, stones and weed, which shoal has six fathoms twenty fathoms off it on either side, and deep water between it and both the islands, so that on entering either of those passages you must keep the islands on board, both of which islands have reefs extending from fifteen to twenty fathoms round them. We entered this passage passing close to the southernmost. Between the next two islands that lay nearly east and west of each other, (the easternmost, the smallest island of the group,) the whole of the ground is foul, and patches of rocks,—not a fit passage to attempt: but between the easternmost or small island, and the next small one to the northward of it is a good clear channel, except about one-third from the easternmost or small island towards the northward, where there is a small shoal of mud with five fathoms and a half, therefore, it is of little consequence; the whole besides is perfectly deep water, except close to the islands, which have like all the others a reef extending round them, about twenty fathoms off. When inside of these islands, you have the bay of Galaxidi open to you, with deep water all over it, and you may anchor within three cables length of the town in twelve fathoms, (mud and sand,) perfectly sheltered from all winds, or in any other part of the bay you please, as it is a most extensive anchorage. The town of Galaxidi stands on a point forming out, which has a creek on either side of it, the one on the south-east side of the town is the one made use of by the coasting vessels, that appear to have a great trade, and eleven vessels from 200 to 50 tons are building in the creek. The town is not very large but is crowded with houses. We anchored in twenty fathoms, (mud,) north extreme of the bay N.E. N., south extreme south, and the centre of the town S.W. W., as we only remained here a few hours to continue the survey from Salona to the western part of the entrance.

PASSAGE FROM SALONA TO GALAXIDI.

FROM Salona to Galaxidi run close along shore, inside of all the islands, and when you come off the point forming the bay of Galaxidi, keep

about fifty fathoms off shore, which is the only danger there is, and you pass the point in fifteen fathoms; after which, you are clear of all the shoal ground, and open the bay of Galaxidi, where you may anchor at pleasure. G. BIDDLECOMBE, Master,

H.M.S. Talbot, 1839.

GILMORE SHOAL, north-west of Cairncross Island.—Inner Passage to Torres Strait.

THE following extract of a letter from Mr. Byron Drury, mate, of her Majesty's ship Alligator, to the Hydrographer of the Admiralty, gives the position of a newly discovered shoal, which is important to vessels frequenting the inner passage from Sydney, as it not only dries, but lies near the track of Capt. King. Mr. Drury on his way to Port Essington, in the Gilmore, from Sydney, which vessel left that place on the 26th of September, says,

"I was anxious to get through Torres Straits, and therefore ran between Cairncross and No. 7, by moonlight, and steered N.N.W. for five miles. The master of the ship wished to obtain a shoaler anchorage than twelve fathoms. So we hauled in W.N.W. and anchored in ten fathoms mud, about three miles and a quarter from the shore.

"At daybreak a shoal appeared, the centre of which was just dry. It was about 120 yards west of the ship.

"The following are the bearings of our anchorage:-Centre of Cairncross Island S.E. E.,-Island No. 7, S.S.E.4 E.,-Pudding Pan Hill S. W., making the shoal in latitude 11° 8′ 30′′ south, and longitude 142° 44′ 45′′ east. It appears to be narrow, but of considerable extent north and south;-it was breaking at least a cable's length north and south of the dry part. It was low water spring tides and must therefore be generally covered. The master of the ship slipped his cable to clear it."

It lies two miles inside of the nearest of Captain King's tracks.

SUGGESTIONS ON THE HEALTH OF MERCHANT SEAMEN.-By Captain C. Biden, Harbour-master, Madras.

[In the early part of our last volume, we printed Dr. Budd's very useful remarks on scurvy. The following suggestions of Capt. Biden have been transmitted to us in consequence.]

THESE suggestions will shew that plain and simple remedies may be adopted and provided on board all vessels, and that common care and caution may effectually guard against that dreadful scourge of sea voyages-the scurvy.

The following letter dated March 5th, 1776, from Captain Cook, to Sir James Pringle, explains the system planned and pursued with such admirable effect by that celebrated commander, and is well deserving